decursus Latin · revision 32914

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=96–55 BC, Lucretius|origins=ine-pro *kr̥s-e/o-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēcursus''' ''m'' (genitive dēcursūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Tacitus has a dative ''dēcursū''.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dēcurrō|-tus|t1=to run down]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|dēcurrō]] is a compound of [[curro|alt=currō]] “to run”, which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*korse/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*kr̥s-e/o-|t=to run]].^(de Vaan 2008) Isidore of Seville says it properly means the end of a course, of water or anything else.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first quotation in the OLD is Lucretius', of the great downrush of water from high mountains.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is a running down or descent: Petronius has toes bloodied in a steep descent, Livy a sudden swoop from the hills, and Cicero an outing into the country during which he practises his theses.^(OLD 2012) Of things it is a downward fall, as Catullus' apple falling headlong, and a downward slope.^(OLD 2012) Of water it is a downward flow, and a channel for it, as in Seneca.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Pliny the Younger uses it of a landing place for ships.^(OLD 2012) It is the running of a race and its finish, and figuratively the completed course of public offices in Cicero, and the flow of a verse in Quintilian.^(OLD 2012) Livy uses it of a military exercise in which a sham fight almost became a deadly battle.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it a stream, a watercourse, and the passing of time,^(Stelten 1995) and in Medieval Latin it is a watercourse.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of water rushing down.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus of a falling apple.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of the course of public offices.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of an attack from the hills and of a sham fight.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A running down, [[m|en|descent]]; a swoop from higher ground; an outing.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A downward fall; a downward slope, [[m|en|declivity]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A downward flow of water; a channel, watercourse.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # A landing place for ships.^(OLD 2012)

+ # The running of a [[m|en|race]], course; its finish; the flow of a verse.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(military)'' A [[m|en|manoeuvre]], exercise.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decurro|alt=dēcurrō]]

+ * [[decursio|alt=dēcursiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}